VERUM
Truth You Can Trace.
A civic intelligence platform restoring trust in American democracy through verified data, transparent sourcing, and values-aligned insights.
Powered by data, guided by values.
Voters Don't Know Who to Trust
American democracy faces a credibility crisis. Information overload, partisan spin, and institutional decline have left citizens confused and disengaged.
Fragmented Information
Candidate details scattered across dozens of biased or outdated sources
Local Race Blindness
70%+ of voters skip downballot races due to lack of accessible clarity
Social Media Spin
Viral narratives replace verified reporting in the public discourse
Trust Collapse
Only ~20% of Americans consistently trust government institutions (Pew 2024)
Clarity Is the New Currency
As traditional media collapses and AI-generated misinformation spreads, voters are desperately seeking neutral, verifiable civic information. The vacuum created by declining local journalism has become a massive opportunity for trusted digital platforms.
160M
Registered Voters
60% actively research candidates online before elections
2,900+
Local Outlets Lost
Creating a dangerous information vacuum across America
Rising demand for neutral, source-backed civic tools represents a generational shift in how Americans engage with democracy.
Verum: The Source of Civic Clarity
A comprehensive platform that transforms how Americans discover, evaluate, and engage with candidates and elected officials — from city council to Congress.
Unified Profiles
Complete information for every elected official and candidate in one searchable database
Source Transparency
Each statement traced to original sources with clear bias labels and verification status
Values Alignment
Personalized matching engine shows how candidates align with your priorities — no partisan endorsements
Promise Tracker
Automated monitoring of campaign promises versus actual voting records and policy actions
Event Discovery
Find local civic events, town halls, and candidate forums with verified attendance information
Donation Transparency
Clear visualization of funding sources with intelligent pattern analysis and industry connections
How Verum Works
A seamless journey from self-discovery to informed civic engagement, designed for clarity and ease of use.
Define Your Values
Quick values assessment builds your unique civic DNA profile
Explore Candidates
Browse verified stances, voting history, and funding sources
Track Promises
Automatic monitoring of campaign commitments versus actions
Take Action
Attend local events, donate intelligently, stay continuously informed
Market Landscape
The civic information space is crowded but fragmented. Existing platforms solve only pieces of the puzzle, leaving critical gaps in neutrality, personalization, and transparency.
Verum stands alone: Neutral positioning, personalized insights, and transparent sourcing — where truth meets technology.
What Makes Verum Unique
Truth You Can Trace
Every claim, statistic, and statement linked directly to verified, original sources with timestamps
Personalization Without Bias
Matching based on user-defined values and priorities, not editorial endorsements or partisan alignment
Bias-Aware Context
Side-by-side comparison of left, center, and right perspectives on every major issue in one unified view
Local-First Coverage
Comprehensive data from municipal councils to federal offices, prioritizing underserved downballot races
Human-Verified AI
Advanced natural language processing combined with expert editorial review ensures precision and accountability
Business Model
Mission-Led. Scalable. Sustainable.
Verum's revenue strategy balances civic mission with financial viability, creating multiple streams that reinforce our core value proposition.
The Moment for Verum
Multiple converging forces create an unprecedented window of opportunity for a trusted civic information platform.
01
AI Misinformation Crisis
Explosion of synthetic content makes verified truth layers critical infrastructure for democracy
02
Peak Election Cycles
2026 midterms and 2028 presidential race drive maximum digital voter engagement
03
Local News Collapse
2,900+ outlets lost since 2005, creating dangerous information vacuum nationwide
04
Bipartisan Media Fatigue
Exhaustion with partisan spin creates trust opportunity for neutral platforms

Launching ahead of 2026 midterms positions Verum to capture demand precisely when voters need us most.
Go-to-Market Roadmap
Stepwise Scale Strategy
Phase 1: Pilot Launch
Deploy in 3 metro areas (Austin, Nashville, Phoenix) with complete candidate coverage. Target: 25,000 engaged users, 100% verified data for all local and federal races.
Phase 2: Strategic Partnerships
Build university research partnerships and integrate with civic-minded podcasts. Launch Verum+ premium tier with advanced features and deeper insights.
Phase 3: National Expansion
Roll out nationwide API access for newsrooms and educational institutions. Full 50-state coverage with comprehensive downballot race information.
Market Sizing & Target Users
Market Opportunity
$1.5B
Total Addressable Market
Civic-tech and political data market size
96M
Serviceable Available Market
160M registered voters × 60% who research online
10M
Serviceable Obtainable Market
Engaged independents, journalists, and educators
Core User Segments
  • Civic-minded independents: Values-driven voters seeking unbiased candidate information
  • Local journalists: Reporters needing verified data for investigative stories
  • Educators & students: Civics teachers and university researchers requiring trusted datasets
  • First-time voters: Young Americans building civic literacy and engagement habits
Team Vision
Building Verum requires expertise across civic technology, data science, media partnerships, and ethical governance. Our founding team brings together mission-driven leadership with deep technical capabilities.
Founder / CEO - Sebastian Harris
Mission-driven civic entrepreneur with experience scaling social impact ventures. Background in journalism and democratic reform advocacy.
CTO / Data Architect - In Search
Expert in natural language processing, data provenance systems, and algorithmic bias detection. Previously built large-scale verification platforms.
Co-Founder & Head of Partnerships - Gordon Riddle Pennington III
Proven track record developing relationships with media organizations, universities, and civic institutions. Former newsroom leadership experience.
Ethics & Compliance Advisor - In Search
Ensures strict neutrality standards and FEC regulatory alignment. Background in election law and platform governance policy.
Investment Ask
Raising $1.5M Pre-Seed
Use of Funds
Key Milestones
Month 6
MVP launch in pilot markets with core feature set
Month 12
100,000 registered users + 3 strategic data partnerships secured
Month 18
Verum+ subscription launch and first revenue generation
Month 24
National rollout complete with 50-state coverage
This capital enables us to build the foundational technology, establish verification workflows, and prove market demand ahead of the critical 2026 election cycle.
Restoring Discernment to Democracy
Verum exists to bring truth back into public life — creating a single, trusted space where citizens can discover, evaluate, and engage with integrity.
Truth You Can Trace.
See Who's Real.
Where Values Meet Verification.
Join us in building the civic infrastructure America needs. Together, we can restore clarity, rebuild trust, and renew democracy for generations to come.